Australian jobs, climate change, economy, Education, Election, employment, environment, Health, Housing, immigration, Industrial Relations, Interest rates, population, Security, Terrorism, Voting intention, Water
Q8. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election? (Number from 1 to 3 where 1 is the most important, 2 the second most important, etc)
| One | Two | Three | Total | Total
25 Jan 10 |
Difference | |
| Management of the economy | 34% | 18% | 10% | 62% | 63% | -1% |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 14% | 20% | 16% | 50% | 48% | +2% |
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 8% | 10% | 11% | 29% | 33% | -4% |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 5% | 8% | 9% | 22% | 18% | +4% |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 3% | 7% | 9% | 19% | 23% | -4% |
| Housing affordability | 6% | 5% | 6% | 17% | 14% | +3% |
| Controlling interest rates | 5% | 5% | 6% | 16% | 15% | +1% |
| Managing population growth | 3% | 4% | 7% | 14% | * | |
| Protecting the environment | 3% | 5% | 5% | 13% | 16% | -3% |
| Political leadership | 5% | 3% | 4% | 12% | 23% | -11% |
| Addressing climate change | 4% | 4% | 4% | 12% | 16% | -4% |
| Fair immigration policies | 3% | 4% | 3% | 10% | * | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 2% | 4% | 3% | 9% | 10% | -1% |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 2% | 2% | 3% | 7% | 12% | -5% |
| Security and the war on terrorism | 2% | 2% | 3% | 7% | 9% | -2% |
*Not asked in January 2010 poll
62% of people surveyed rate management of the economy is one of their three most important issues, followed by 50% that rate ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and 29% that rate Australian jobs and protection of local industries as one of their three most important issues.
Only 9% rate a fair industrial relations system as one of their three most important issues and 7% rate security and the war on terrorism and ensuring a quality water supply.
The major change since the previous survey in January, was a drop in the importance of political leadership from 23% to 12%. Ensuring a fairer tax system has risen slightly from 18% to 22%. Comments »
asylum, asylum seekers, economy, Education, Government performance, Health, Industrial Relations
Q6. How would you rate the Federal Government’s performance in handling the following issues?
| Total good | Total poor | Very good | Good | Poor | Very poor | Not sure | |
| Stimulating the economy to address the economic crisis | 63% | 29% | 21% | 42% | 19% | 10% | 8% |
| Handling the economy in such a way as to minimize job losses during the recent economic crisis | 59% | 29% | 15% | 44% | 18% | 11% | 12% |
| Trying to find ways to improve the health care system | 50% | 39% | 10% | 39% | 24% | 15% | 12% |
| Replacing the Workchoices industrial laws | 44% | 36% | 13% | 31% | 22% | 14% | 20% |
| Standing up for Australian working families | 43% | 45% | 9% | 34% | 24% | 21% | 13% |
| Balancing the interests of business and Australian workers | 39% | 43% | 5% | 34% | 25% | 18% | 18% |
| The school buildings program | 31% | 56% | 5% | 25% | 29% | 27% | 14% |
| Introducing an emissions trading scheme | 28% | 57% | 3% | 25% | 28% | 29% | 15% |
| Handling the issue of asylum seekers | 18% | 72% | 3% | 15% | 28% | 43% | 10% |
A majority of respondents rated the Government’s performance good or very good for “Stimulating the economy to address the economic crisis” (63%), “Handling the economy in such a way as to minimize job losses during the recent economic crisis” (59%) and “Trying to find ways to improve the health care system” (50%).
A majority rated the Government’s performance poor or very poor for “Handling the issue of asylum seekers” (72%), “Introducing an emissions trading scheme” (57%) and “The school buildings program” (56%).
The only issue on which less than half Labor voters rated the Government performance as good/very good was “Handling the issue of asylum seekers” (34% good/58% poor). Comments »
Q8. Do you think Australians pay –
| Too much tax | 61% |
| Too little tax | 4% |
| About the right amount | 28% |
| Don’t know | 7% |
61% think Australians pay too much tax and 28% think Australians pay about the right amount.
72% of full-time workers think we pay too much tax but there were no significant differences by income level.
Labor and Liberal/National voters also gave similar responses. Comments »
economy, employment, job security, staffing
Q. Over the last 12 months, has the business you work for cut back on staff, increased staff or have staffing levels stayed much the same?
| % | |
| Increased staff | 13% |
| Cut back on staff | 26% |
| Stayed much the same | 57% |
| Don’t know | 4% |
N=532
Only asked to those in employment
For those currently employed, over half (57%) indicated that staffing levels have stayed much the same at their place of employment. 26% indicated that over the past 12 months, the business they work for has cut back on staff, 13% indicated that staffing levels have increased and 4% don’t know.
There were no significant differences in terms of public or private workplaces; however people employed in the public sector were slightly more likely than those in the private sector to indicate there has been a cut back on staff in their workplace (29% v 25%). Comments »
economy, inflation, Interest rates, profits, unemployment
Q. How important are each of the following for Australia to have a strong economy?
| Very important | Somewhat important | Not so important | Don’t know | |
| Low inflation | 43% | 42% | 5% | 10% |
| Low unemployment rate | 57% | 33% | 3% | 6% |
| Increased company profits | 17% | 46% | 26% | 11% |
| Low interest rates | 38% | 43% | 10% | 9% |
| A reduction in Government spending | 35% | 38% | 19% | 9% |
| Higher GDP | 27% | 41% | 6% | 26% |
| Increasing share prices | 20% | 40% | 23% | 16% |
| Increased wages for workers | 30% | 48% | 15% | 7% |
Over half (57%) of those surveyed think that low unemployment rates is a very important for Australia to have a strong economy, 43% think low inflation is very important and 38% think low interest rates are very important.
Labor voters were more likely to think that increased wages for workers are very important for Australia to have a strong economy (36%).
Coalition voters were more likely to think that increased company profits (22%), a reduction in Government spending (48%) and an increasing in share prices (23%) are very important for Australia to have a strong economy.
There were no substantial differences amongst the various demographic groups. Comments »
Australian jobs, budget, economy, Industrial Relations, inflation, Interest rates, Labor, Liberal, party best at
Q. Which party – Labor or Liberal – would by best at the following –
| Labor | Liberal | No difference | Don’t know | |
| Being on the side of Australian working people when it comes to issues affecting them at the workplace | 48% | 18% | 24% | 10% |
| Handling the economy in a way that best protects ordinary working people in Australia | 39% | 30% | 20% | 11% |
| Creating jobs for Australian workers | 36% | 27% | 26% | 11% |
| Representing you and people like you | 35% | 30% | 24% | 11% |
| Handling the economy | 30% | 37% | 23% | 10% |
| Controlling inflation | 24% | 35% | 31% | 11% |
| Keeping interest rates low | 23% | 29% | 35% | 13% |
| Dealing with the budget and keeping government spending down in general | 22% | 42% | 26% | 10% |
Just under half (48%) of those surveyed think that Labor is the best party at being on the side of Australian working people when it comes to issues affecting them at the workplace, 39% think Labor is best at handling the economy in a way that protects ordinary working people in Australia.
The Liberal Party score highest in terms of dealing with the budget and keeping government spending down in general (42%) and handling the economy (37%).
In terms of being on the side of Australian working people when it comes to issues affecting them at the workplace, under half (46%) of Coalition voters surveyed think the Liberal Party is best at handling this, 33% of these voters think there is no difference and 16% of Coalition voters think Labor is best at being on the side of Australian working people when it comes to workplace issues. Comments »
economy, environment, immigration, infrastructure, population
Q. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about Australia’s population growth?
| Total agree | Total disagree | Strongly agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly disagree | Don’t know | |
| We just don’t have the infrastructure and services to manage more population growth | 75% | 19% | 36% | 39% | 14% | 5% | 6% |
| Immigration should be slowed as it causes too much change to our society | 64% | 29% | 32% | 32% | 20% | 9% | 7% |
| Australia has a fragile environment that cannot cope with a much larger population | 61% | 30% | 24% | 37% | 24% | 6% | 8% |
| Having a larger population will help our economy | 38% | 52% | 7% | 31% | 34% | 18% | 10% |
| Australia has the space and resources to cope with a much larger population | 35% | 58% | 8% | 27% | 31% | 27% | 7% |
When it comes to statements about population growth, most people agree that we just don’t have the infrastructure and services to manage more population growth (75%). 64% agree that immigration should be slowed as it causes too much change to our society and 61% think Australia has a fragile environment that cannot cope with a much larger population. More than half (58%) disagree that Australia has the space and resources to cope with a much larger population.
Labor voters were more likely to agree that having a larger population will help our economy (42%) and disagree that we just don’t have the infrastructure and services to manage more population growth (23%).
Coalition voters were more likely to agree that we just don’t have the infrastructure and services to manage more population growth (82%) and agree that immigration should be slowed as it causes too much change to our society (74%).
Greens voters were more likely to agree that Australia has a fragile environment that cannot cope with a much larger population (66%). Comments »
ageing population, economy, kevin rudd, productivity, rudd
Q. The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recently said that over the next decade Australia must build the best educated, best skilled and best trained workforce in the world to increase productivity and counter the effects of an ageing population. Do you agree or disagree?
| % | |
| Total agree | 82% |
| Total disagree | 8% |
| Strong agree | 34% |
| Agree | 48% |
| Disagree | 6% |
| Strongly disagree | 2% |
| Don’t know | 10% |
The majority of those surveyed agree with Kevin Rudd’s recent comments that over the next decade Australia must build the best educated, best skilled and best trained workforce in the world to increase productivity and counter the effects of an ageing population (82%), 8% disagree with the comments and 10% don’t know.
Results were consistent amongst most demographic groups. However, Labor voters were more likely to strongly agree with Rudd’s statements (46%). Comments »